Gasoline-price indicator



Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITED STATES 'WILLLAJE n. ns'rnmr, o1- Lmcomv, mm

GASOLINE-PRICE INDICATOR,

Application filed lay 4,

. an indicator, with the addition of a simple calculator for gasoline in the quantities, usually ordered at such filling stations.

. Having in view these objects and others an abutment for the window 11.

which will be pointed out in the following description. I will now refer to .the drawings. in which g Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my gasoline price indicator.

Figure 2 is an edge view in elevation of the upper portion of the indicator. showing particularly the slidable connection between the cover and the body of the, case. I

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. k

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional vie through the upper portion of the case.

a The body portion of the case is formed from sheet metal or from any other suitable sheet material. The side and bottom edges of the case are turned in at 10 to provide An L- shaped strip 12 of similar material is secured to the body portion of the case at its bottom and side edges, preferably by welding. The L-shaped strip 12 is spaced from the inturned edges 10 a sufiicient distance to permit the 'rsertiomof the window 11 therebetween. The back of the case is inturned to provide a U-shaped portion 13 as shown in Figure -I. The back walls 14 are each provided with a downturned lip15, as best shown in Figure 2. the lip 15 being spaced from the back a distance equal to the thicknes of the metal.

The top or cover for the case is best shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is slightlylonger than the width of'the case. It has an overhanging flange ,16 at the front. and at the back it is first turned u to form a portion 18, and finally up to form a lip 19 which slidably engages thelip 15. At 20 are apertures for hanging the indicator from a pair of nails or hooks or similar devices. The cover is very securely attached to the case but it may be easily removed therefrom by .sliding it laterally in either direction. When'in use it is weather- M717 then down PATENT tJFF IQE.

192a. Serial No. 106,676. 1 proof since any rain which falls upon it will be carried to points outside'the case.

The wall 13 has a double function. It is 7' positioned in alignment with the pair of in-- turned edges IOand it formsan abutment for the window '11. Its primary purpose, however, is to serve as a wall on which the number of gallons is permanently'indicated.

In my preferred construction I place the numerals 1 to 20 inclusive directly on the front of the wall 13 where they can be easily read through the window 11. displaying the price of the gasoline in any oflhese quantities I employ cards 21 on which the prices are printed so as to register with the numerals on the wall 13. The top numeral on each card, of course, indicates the price for one gallon. and the subsequent numerals are simply multiples of the gallon price. Since filling stations usually keep in stock two grades of gasoline, I have provided two wells in the case on opposite sides of the wall 13 so that both prioes'are displayed simultaneously.

For i The' adyaptages of my indicator zwill be readily apparent. It may be permanently displayed where motorists can, see the humerals without 'difliculty. hen the price O per gallon of gasoline changes the attendant at the filling station simply removes the cover of the case and withdraws the card showing the new price per gallon in the top figure. and he then slides this card into the .well with the numerals facing the window 11. He then replaces the cover and hangse the indicator up. When motorists come m they can easily calculate the quantity of gasoline which they wish to obtain, basing the calculation on either the amount of gasoline which they need for filling the gasm o5 line tank or on the amount of money which they have ayailable for the purchase of gasoline. At the same time the price per gallon is displayed as prominently as it is at present. The attendant is also relieved of the task of calculating the price. In thisrespect particularly the indicator of vital importance in the filling station. The attendant ordinarily is required to the 10s due to aptto be so great that the losses of even one-busy day-would pay for an; indicatorsuch ,-as I have described. At the sametimethe indicator very much superior to the cards a5 present me a. more or less time for the calculations and in use in that it is very neat, attractive and vornamental in appearance.

. At the heads of the columns are the words Common,- Gal. and Hi-Test respectively, or words of similar import. These, like the numerals of the middle column, are permanent since they need never be changed.

They may be applied in any desired manner 4 secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A gasoline price indicator comprising a" case and a plurality of interchangeable pricecards in two series, said case being provided with an open upper extremity and having a removable cover therefor, :a vertical plate within said case adjacent said win dow, said platebeing provided with permanent indicia representing numbers of gallons, and vertical transverse partitions insaid case forming a well at each side of said plate to provide for the storage and display I of said price cards.

2. A gasoline price indicator comprising a case and a plurality of interchangeable .price cards, said case being open at its upper extremity and having a removable cover, a pair of vertical transverse partitions integral with the back wall of said case and forming with the back and side walls two wells for the storage and display of the price cards, a plate uniting the front edges of said partitions and integral therewith, said plate being provided with permanent indicia representing numbers of gallons, and a window covering said plate and forming the front side of the two wells.

3. A gasoline price indicator including a plurality of price indicating cards and a case therefor, said case being open at its upper extremity, a downturned lip on' the upper edge of the back portion of said case, a closure for the opening at the top of said case, said closure having a downturned flange at its front edge and having an upward projection at itsrear edge, said closure having also means for slidably engaging said lip, the upward projection being provided with an aperture for engaging a support for hanging up said case a window in the front side of said case, and a plate within said case and displaying indicia representing numbers of gallons.

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature.

WILLIAM H. ASTLEY. 

